On Friday, September 13, 2024, the prestigious ETH Zurich hosted the fourth edition of the Slovak and Czech Annual Symposium 2024. This event, which has become a key platform for Czech and Slovak scientists, entrepreneurs, students, and expatriates not only in Switzerland, once again attracted a broad spectrum of experts and prominent figures from various fields. This year's edition was also made possible thanks to the PROPED project, which supports economic and scientific diplomacy.
The event was officially opened by Jiří Kozák, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, alongside Alexander Micovčin, Slovak Ambassador, and Tomáš Jan Podivínský, Czech Ambassador. In their opening speeches, they emphasized the importance of such conferences for strengthening the Czechoslovak community abroad and deepening cooperation in science, business, and diplomacy. During the conference, Deputy Kozák and Ambassador Podivínský met and held discussions with several Czech scientists, led by molecular biologist and biochemist Professor Martin Jinek, who played a key role in the research awarded the Nobel Prize in 2020.
Keynote Speakers: Science, Technology, and Innovation
Among the notable speakers at this year's event was Jan Lukačevič, a scientist and space engineer at the Prague Innovation Institute. Lukačevič, the founder of the Marsonaut laboratory, where plants are studied under conditions simulating life on Mars, spoke about the development of space activities in the Czech Republic. As a member of the NATO Secretary General's advisory board within the NATO2030 initiative, he also presented his efforts to support young talent through his Žárovky Foundation.
Another interesting presentation was delivered by Jiří Mouka, who introduced technological trends in online communication and explained the concept of headless CMS—a content management system that separates content from its display. His talk demonstrated how this technology can improve the efficiency of working with web content. "The atmosphere immediately drew me in; it was great to finally meet people I had only known online. Networking was in full swing from the first minute until the afterparty, and you could feel that it wasn’t just about formal presentations. I also had the honor of presenting how we deliver web and mobile applications for leading Swiss companies. The whole day was informal, yet very productive—I received excellent feedback on our approach and exchanged many interesting experiences from working with Swiss companies," said Jiří Mouka, founder of NOTUM.
At the CometX event, we ended up here with Vojta Kadlec somewhat by accident and didn’t have high expectations. But from the very first presentation, the event drew me in—it was an incredible concentration of smart, successful, yet kind and open people. - Vojtěch Nosek, Unico Analytics
Petra Kinzlová, who works in biotechnology, explored in her presentation the potential of Prague to become a Central European hub for biotechnology research and innovation. Vojtěch Nosek and Vojtěch Kadlec then presented methods for business validation of academic technologies and demonstrated how academic research can be successfully transferred into the commercial sector. "At the CometX event, we ended up here with Vojta Kadlec somewhat by accident and didn’t have high expectations. But from the very first presentation, the event drew me in—it was an incredible concentration of smart, successful, yet kind and open people. After our talk, several companies approached us with interest in our services, and during discussions at the networking sessions, we came up with several business improvements, which we are now trying to implement at UNICO. Surprisingly, it turned out to be one of the most interesting and beneficial events for us in recent times. Hopefully, we’ll make it next year as well," evaluated the conference Vojtěch Nosek from UNICO. Among others, Milan Matějů gave an inspiring lecture on "Plasma for People," presenting the possibilities of using plasma technologies for medical and industrial applications.
Panel Discussion: Interpersonal Communication and Soft Skills
The panel discussion, focusing on interpersonal communication, was one of the program’s highlights. The participants included Markéta Fajmonová, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, renowned Czech psychotherapist and author Honza Vojtko, storytelling expert and soft-skills trainer Václav Strnadel, and Iva Kleinová, Head of Talent Policy at the Research and Innovation Authority (VAIA) in Slovakia. The discussion covered topics such as effective communication, the art of presentation, and the use of soft skills in both professional and personal life.
Networking and Building Connections
Once again, this year's conference demonstrated that its primary value lies in networking. During breaks and informal meetings, participants could connect with other professionals from various fields, share experiences, and establish new collaborations. Networking remained a vital event element, benefiting scientists, entrepreneurs, and students.
Summary and the Future of Czech-Slovak Cooperation
The fourth edition of the Slovak and Czech Annual Symposium at ETH Zurich was again a great success. It featured engaging presentations, panel discussions, and practical workshops that left a lasting impression on the participants. The conference continues to be recognized as an essential platform for connecting science, business, and diplomacy between the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland. Given its significance for the Czechoslovak community and the development of bilateral relations, it is expected to continue growing and attract more experts and leaders from various sectors. For more information about the conference, visit Annual Symposium 2024
Zdeněk Eliáš, Trade Counsellor, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bern
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